Caladium plant named ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant named ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’, characterized by its tall and upright to somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; fancy-type leaves that are pale green or pale greenish yellow in color and flushed with reddish bronze, with reddish bronze-colored margins, and midvein and primary veins that are greenish white tinged with reddish bronze in color surrounded by white areas; occasional dark green-colored flecks and/or blotches may be present; and petioles that are almost black in color with greenish or tan-colored stripes.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant.Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C.102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladiumplant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referredto as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create newCaladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container andgarden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2013 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum‘Twist N' Shout’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withCaladium X hortulanum ‘White Cap’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.23,815, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Avon Park, Fla. in September, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers(cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing anaxillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2015 has shown that theunique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’ as a newand distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Tall and upright to somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and        bushy appearance.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Fancy-type leaves that are pale green or pale greenish yellow        in color and flushed with reddish bronze, with reddish        bronze-colored margins, and midvein and primary veins that are        greenish white tinged with reddish bronze in color surrounded by        white areas; occasional dark green-colored flecks and/or        blotches may be present.    -   4. Petioles that are almost black in color with greenish or        tan-colored stripes.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Twist N' Shout’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are tall and upright whereas        plants of ‘Twist N' Shout’ are intermediate to tall and upright.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are pale green or pale        greenish yellow in color and flushed with reddish bronze, with        reddish bronze-colored margins, and midvein and primary veins        that are greenish white tinged with reddish bronze in color        surrounded by white areas whereas leaves of ‘Twist N' Shout’ are        olive green in color with green to coppery bronze-colored        venation and coppery orange-colored spots and blotches.    -   3. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black        in color with greenish or tan-colored stripes whereas leaf        petioles of plants of ‘Twist N' Shout’ are light green in color.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘White Cap’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are tall and upright whereas        plants of ‘White Cap’ are intermediate to tall and upright.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are pale green or pale        greenish yellow in color and flushed with reddish bronze, with        reddish bronze-colored margins, and midvein and primary veins        that are greenish white tinged with reddish bronze in color        surrounded by white areas whereas leaves of ‘White Cap’ have        white-colored venation and white, greyed green and green        speckled interveinal areas and dark green-colored margins.    -   3. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black        in color with greenish or tan-colored stripes whereas leaf        petioles of plants of ‘White Cap’ are green in color with        darker-colored stippling.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium Xhortulanum ‘Aaron’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Aaron’ in leaf coloras leaves of the new Caladium are pale green or pale greenish yellow incolor and flushed with reddish bronze, with reddish bronze-coloredmargins, and midvein and primary veins that are greenish white tingedwith reddish bronze in color surrounded by white areas whereas leaves of‘Aaron’ have white-colored venation and radiating interveinal areassurrounded with green-colored borders. In addition, plants of the newCaladium differ from plants of ‘Aaron’ in leaf petiole color as leafpetioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black in color withgreenish or tan-colored stripes whereas leaf petioles of plants of‘Aaron’ are green in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium Xhortulanum ‘Water's Edge’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,965. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Water's Edge’ in leaf color as leaves of the newCaladium are pale green or pale greenish yellow in color and flushedwith reddish bronze, with reddish bronze-colored margins, and midveinand primary veins that are greenish white tinged with reddish bronze incolor surrounded by white areas whereas leaves of ‘Water's Edge’ havebright white-colored venation, grey green-colored interveinal areassurrounded by dark green borders. In addition, plants of the newCaladium differ from plants of ‘Water's Edge’ in leaf petiole color asleaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black in colorwith greenish or tan-colored stripes whereas leaf petioles of plants of‘Water's Edge’ are green in color with dark brown-colored streaks,stippling and tessellations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical plant of ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’ grown in a container that has hadits tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is sideperspective view of typical plants of the male parent, ‘White Cap’(left), ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’ (center) and the female parent, ‘Twist N'Shout’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is sideperspective view of typical plants of ‘Water's Edge’ (left), ‘ARN BRZOF14-40’ (center) and ‘Aaron’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet (FIG. 4) is a comparisonview of typical plants of ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’ grown in containers, theplant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on theright has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet (FIG. 5) is a sideperspective view of typical plants of ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’ grown in an openproduction field.

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 6) is a close-up view oftypical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘ARNBRZ OF14-40’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in apolypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park,Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions inan outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown undercultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nurseryproduction. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, daytemperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperaturesranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 750 μmol.During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, daytemperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperaturesranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and full sunlight conditions. Plantsgrown in the shade house were ten weeks old and plants grown in theoutdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographs and thedetailed description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘ARN BRZ OF14-40’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Twist N'            Shout’ not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘White Cap’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,815.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            temperatures about 32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown            plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments            are large and elliptic in shape. Height: About 3.3 cm to            4 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 cm to 8.8 cm. Segment height:            About 3.4 cm. Segment diameter: About 6 cm. Axillary bud            shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud size: About 5 mm by            6 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color:            Periderm, freshly-harvested: Close to N199B. Periderm,            dried: Close to 200A. Epidermis: Close to N170D; when            developing, close to 36D. Cortical tissue: Close to 155D.            Axillary buds: Close to 36B and 36D. Root description:            Thick, fleshy contractile roots with few lateral branches;            color, close to NN155C. Rooting habit: Relatively sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant            in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape            plant in shaded areas.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Tall and upright to somewhat            mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous            growth habit and moderate growth rate; potted plants finish            in saleable form in about six to seven weeks after planting            tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more            growing points on tubers; leaf petioles initially upright            and leaning outwardly with development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade            house-grown potted plants.—When tubers are de-eyed, about            38.5 cm to 41 cm; tubers not de-eyed, about 46 cm to 47 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted            plants.—When tubers are de-eyed, about 35 cm to 42 cm;            tubers not de-eyed, about 35 cm to 49 cm.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,            tubers de-eyed.—About two to four develop per #1 tuber.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,            tubers not de-eyed.—About two to three develop per #1 tuber.        -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About            5.5 cm to 10.4 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm to 1.6 cm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base: Sheathing the            stein. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to N199C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.        -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants, flattened.—When            tubers are de-eyed, about 15 cm to 19 cm; tubers not            de-eyed, about 27 cm to 38 cm.        -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants, flattened.—When            tubers are de-eyed, about 12 cm to 14.5 cm; tubers not            de-eyed, about 18.5 cm to 26 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate; cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; dull            sheen.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glaucous; dull sheen.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate.        -   Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—Fully developed            leaves, upper surface: Interveinal areas: Variable, close to            193B, 157B, 157C, 150D, lighter than 148C, 148D, 176A to            176B and/or 175A tinged with close to 166A. Margins: Close            to 176A to 176B or 148B flushed with close to 176A to 176B;            edge, close to 187B to 187C. Basal notch: Close to 183C and            182D. Midvein: Close to 157C and 193D; distally, close to            157C and 193D flushed with close to 183D; areas surrounding            midvein, close to NN155B, N155B or N155C flushed with close            to 183D. Primary veins: Close to 195C to 195D variably            flushed with close to 182B distally, flushed with close to            183D; areas surrounding primary venation, close to NN155B,            N155B or N155C flushed with close to 183D. Occasionally,            random flecks and/or blotches are observed: Close to 147A.            Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Interveinal areas:            Variable, close to 155B, 148D and/or 157B. Margins: Close to            147C; edge, close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 183D and            187C. Midvein: Close to 145D; distally, close to 148D            faintly tinged with close to 182D; areas surrounding            midvein, close to NN155D. Primary veins: Close to 155C and            159D faintly and variably tinged with close to 182D; areas            surrounding primary venation, close to NN155D.        -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning            outwardly with development; flexible. Length, shade            house-grown potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 23            cm to 31 cm; tubers not de-eyed, about 26.5 cm to 38 cm.            Diameter, distally, shade house-grown potted plants: When            tubers are de-eyed, about 3 mm to 4 mm; tubers not de-eyed,            about 5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown            potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 6 mm to 8 mm;            tubers not de-eyed, about 9 mm to 11 mm. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; distally, glaucous; slightly glossy.            Color, shade house-grown potted plants: Close to 203A to            203B variably striped with close to 147B to 147C or striped            with close to N155C tinged with close to N170D; or close to            N200A and N199A variably striped with close to N155B tinged            with close to N170D; just below the leaf junction, close to            147D faintly and variably stippled, streaked and tessellated            with close to 200A. Wing length, shade house-grown potted            plants: About 7.2 cm to 8.4 cm. Wing diameter, shade            house-grown potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 7            mm; tubers not de-eyed, about 15 mm Texture and luster,            inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Wing color, shade house-grown potted plants: Outer surface:            Close to 203A marbled with close to 147C to 147D; or close            to 147C densely streaked, stippled and tessellated with            close to N200A. Inner surface: Close to N155C tinged with            close to 196D; colors and patterns on the outer surface are            visible on the inner surface.-   Inflorescence description: To date, inflorescence development has    not been observed on plants of the new Caladium.-   Pathogen tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to    have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above average    tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new Caladium have    not been observed to have tolerance/resistance to other pathogens    common to Caladium plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40° C.    and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones,    tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a cool    dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘ARN BRZOF14-40’ as illustrated and described.